Rotary engine.



No. 663,766. Patented Dec. n, |900.

F. LAZENBY.

RQTARY ENGINE. (Application med-Feb. 19, 1900.) (No Model.)

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N0. 663,766. Patented Dec. ll, |900. B.` F. LAZENBY. ROTARY ENGINE.

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Patented D66. Il, |900.

B. E. LAzENBY. ROTARY ENGINE. (Appliation med Feb. 19, 1900.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

I /N VEA/706 No. 663,766. Pa'hfed nec. Il, |900.

' F. LAzENBY.

ROTARY ENGINE.

@Appumion med Feb. 19, woo l W/TNESSES Y Armar Prion.

BENJAMIN F. LAZENBY, OF WENTWORTH, MISSOURI.

ROTARY MENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 663,766, dated December 111900.

Application filed February 19,1900. Serial No. 5,707. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern,.-

Beit known that I, BENJAMIN F. LAZENBY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Wentworth, in the county of Newton and State of Missouri, have invented a new and Improved Rotary Engine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a rotary engine characterized by a revolving piston with two annular steam-spaces therein and with two piston-heads related, respectively, to such spaces, these parts working with a peculiar valve mechanism shifting the steam alternately from one steam-space to the other, whereby to cause the continuous rotation of the piston.

This specification is the disclosure of one form of the invention, while the claims deiine the actual scope thereof.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is aside elevation of the invention. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. l. Fig. 4is an end view of the valve-chest, showing the valve-operating gear. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

The casing or cylinder of the engine is constructed in two parts 7 and 8, rigidly fastened together, the latter part 8 carrying a valve-chest 9. The parts 7 and 8 of the cylinder are shaped to form a circular chamber, in which the piston 10 is mounted. This piston is circular in form and is provided with spindles 11, which are fastened to the piston and mounted to turn in bearings formed in the side plates or members 12 of the cylinder. These side plates or members 12 are located one at each side of the cylinder and extend horizontally across the chamber formed therein. One of the spindles 11 may be provided with a band-pulley 14, from which power may be taken. The sections 7 and 8 of the cylinder are provided with packing devices each comprising a circular channel-iron 15, having springs 16 therein to press them against the piston, and these packing devices act against the piston 10 so as to make a steamtight joint. For the purpose of lubricating the piston I form in the valve-chest 9 a passage 17, fed from a suitable oil-cup 18 and having branches 19 leading to the piston at various points.

The piston l0 is formed with two peripheral steam chambers 20, which extend continuously around the circumference of the piston, and into which respectively project abutments 21, fastened to the section S of the cylinder and extending inward. The abutments 21 are provided with a suitable packing 22 for etfecting a steam-tight connection with the walls of the steam-passages 20 oi the piston. Working in each steam-passage 2O of the piston 10 is a piston-head 23. These'piston-heads are arranged to be radially movable in the piston and are diametrically opposite eachother. Oavities 24 are formed in the piston, into which the piston-heads 23 are movable, so as to avoid the abutments 2l, and suitable guideways or grooves 25 are formed in the piston to receive the side edges of the piston-heads, forming .a steamtight connection. Each piston-head 23 has a stem 25a attached, and these stems extend radially inward to the respective cavities 26, formed in the piston. The cavities 26 open to the respective sides of the piston, and levers 27 are fulcrumed one in each cavity. These levers have sliding connection with the stems 25 and project outward, being formed at their outer ends with rollers 28, which run in cam-grooves 29, formed in the frame-plates 12, such grooves encircling the spindles 11 of the piston',` so that as the piston turns the levers 27 will be operated and their movement imparted to the piston-heads 23. The cam-groove 29, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, is of such form as to hold the piston-heads 23 outward in the position shown in Fig. 2 at all times except when the pistonheads approach the abutments 2l, whereupon the piston-heads are drawn inward to pass the abutments and then thrown back: to operative position.

The steam is led to the engine by a feedpipe 30, whichhas two branches 31 passing down to the valve-chest 9 and communicating, respectively, with ports 32, which pass into circular valve-chambers 33 in the chest 9, and these valve-chambers 33 each communicate with two ports 34, which pass, respec- IOO nals 39 projected through the walls of the opposite arrangement of the piston-heads the closed partly by the `solid portions 37 and `6, the ports 34 are opened t0 the exhaust-port tively, to the interior of the cylinder of the engine in position to communicate with the respective steam-passages 2O of the piston. This a-rrangement of the ports 32 and 34 and the valve-cham bers 33 is best illustrated in Figs. 2, 5, and 6, where it will be seen that each steam-passage 20 of the piston is in communication with two of the ports 34. The exhaust of the engine is carried off by a pipec 35, which passes from between the branches 31 of the pipe 30 and communicates with an exhaust-port 36, formed in the valve-chest 9 and situate between the valve-chambers 33. (See Figs. 2 and 3 and the dotted lines in Fig. 6.) The exhaust-port 36 has elliptical branches 36 at its lower end, which communicate with the respective valve-chambers 33 at points immediately opposite the ports 34.

Ineach valve-chamber 33 is mounted a valve which comprises a solid segmental portion 37 of slightly less than one-half a circle in extent. These valves are provided at their inner ends with flanges 38, which have arcshaped notches registering with the branches 36 of the exhaust-port 36, as shown in Fig. 6. The valves are mounted to turn in the valve-chambers and have their outer jourvalve-chest 9, as will be hereinafter fully described. When the valves are in the position shown in Fig. 5 theeXhaust-port will be partly by the flanges 38, thus leaving a free passage for the steam from the adjacent port 32 down to the corresponding port 34 at the left-hand side. These ports 38 communicate with the steam-passages 2O ofthe piston on the respective sides of the abutments 2l, as will be understood. Should the valve shown in Fig. 5 be turned in the direction of the arrow o. in such view, the left-hand port 34 will be closed and the right-hand port 34 opened. When the valves are in the position shown in Fig.

36 and the adjacent port 32 is closed. Re ferring to Fig. 2, therefore, it will be seen that the steam is supposed to pass down the right-hand branch 3l of the pipe 30, past the right-hand valve, and then into the steampassage 2O at the right-hand side of the abutment 2l, acting on the corresponding pistonhead 23 to drive the piston in the direction of the arrow h in Fig. 2. In this view the left-hand valve 37 is supposed to be in position to open the corresponding passages 34 to the exhaust-port 36, permitting the steam to be exhausted in this way.

The steam acts on the piston-heads until they approach the abutments, and then the piston-heads are Withdrawn to pass the abutments. It will be observed that owing to the piston is continually under the direct infiuence of steam-pressure. During the operation of the engine one ofthe Valves (see Fig. 6) is set permanently to open the exhaustpassage, and the piston of this valve does not l change unless the engine be reversed. AThe other valve (see Fig. 5) is set to rock and alternately open the two ports 34, communicating therewith, so that the steam is introduced alternately into the steam-passages 20. The piston-heads 23 are so timed that the instant they pass the abutments 2l the steam will act thereon, and this action will be by impact as long as the valve which is set to rock is in open position with respect to the piston-head referred to. I When such valve is closed with respect to 4this piston-head, the steam then acts eXpansively, as will loe` understood. It is clear that by reversing the positions of the valves, as shown in Figs. 2, 5, and 6, the directionbf the movement of theV piston will also bereversed, and it is also clear that by throwing both of the valves to the position shown in Fig. 5, thus causing the steam to work against both sides of the piston-head, the movement of the piston will be stopped.

For oscillating the valves I lprovide each side of the piston with an exterior cam-groove 40, in Which are received the respective pins 4l of bars 42, held to slide on the valve-chest. The bars 42 are respectively in pivotal connection with toothed sectors 43, mounted on the sides of the valve-chest and meshing, respectively, with pinions 44, loose on the journais or stems 39 of the valves. Splined on each stem 39 is a clutch member 45, which members are respectively arranged to mesh with the pinions 44. (See the right-hand side of Fig. 2.) These clutch members 45 are provided with a flange 46, in the periphery of which is formed a notch 49, fianked by recessed portions 48. 4These iianges 46 are designed especially to work with spiral-form guides 47, fastened to the valve-chest 9 and to the respective bearings 48% which carry the ends of the valve-stems 39. When the clutches 45, with their flanges 46, are in the position shown at the right hand of Fig. 2, the corresponding guide 47 will lie within the recessed portions 48 of the flanges 46, thus limiting the oscillating movement of the clutch member. The movement of the sectors 43 will then be transmitted to the pinions 44, and thence to the clutch members 45 and stems 39; When the clutch members are thrown to the outer or disengaged position, as shown at the left of Fig. 2, the guides 47 will be engaged in the notches 49 of the disks 46, and owing to the spiral form of the guides the clutch members will be caused to turn axially, thus imparting a like movement to the stems 39 and the valves attached. It will therefore be seen that the disengagement of the clutch members 45 from the pinions 44 also results in the rocking of the valve-stems 39 and the valves attached. The clutch members 45 are connected with each other, so that When one is thrown in the other is thrown out, and when it 'is desired to reversethe engine the clutch members are operated to change their relative positions, which not only shifts the valves to eect the reversal, but also disloo IOS

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engages the clutch member of the valve which then becomes the exhaust-valve and engages the clutch member of the valve which then becomes the feed-valve.

For throwing the clutch members I provide each with a forked lever 50, such levers being engaged with the respective clutch members and fulcrumed on arms 5l, projecting from the valve-chest. These levers 50 are connected with links 52, which pass inward and are respectively connected with hand-levers 53 and 54. The hand-levers 53 and 54 are fulorumed on a stub-shaft 55, carried by an upwardly-projectin g member 56 on the valvechest 9."" The lever 54 has a hand-pawl 57, which works with ratchet-teeth formed on the member, and this lever 54 also has a ratchet 58 formed thereon, which is juxtaposed to the lever 53, so that a hand-pawl 59 on such lever 53 may work with the ratchet 58 on the lever 54. Now it will be seen that when the pawl 57 is disengaged from the ratchet-teeth on the member 56 the two levers 53 and 54 may be thrown in unison and that this unitary movement of the two levers will result in simultaneously shifting the clutch members in the manner previously described. Either or both of the levers may be thrown independently by operating both of the pawls 57 and 59, as will be obvious from the foregoing description.

The operation and the manner of using my invention may be fully understood from the above description. The pipe 30 may, if desired, be provided with a throttle-valve; but this is not absolutely essential, since the steam-Valves of the engine may be adjusted to cut off the steam, as has been already eX- plained. Suitable packing may be provided for various parts of the engine, so as to render all of the elements steam-tight, and I do not consider myself limited in these matters. In this connection I will explain that the packing 60 (see Fig. 3) may be provided for the piston to surround the rods or stems 25a, forming a steam-tight connection between them and the piston. This packing may be of any suitable form, as desired.

Various other changes in minor details may be resorted to without departing from my invention. Hence I do not consider myself limited to the precise construction and arrangement as herein shown, but believe myself entitled to all such variations as come within the spirit and scope of my claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent l. A rotary engine having a cylinder, a piston mounted to turn therein and having two peripheral steam-passages, two abutments attached to the cylinder and project-ing respectively into the steam-passages, two pistonheads working respectively with the steampassages, means for automatically withdrawing the piston-heads to permit them to avoid the respective abutments, a valve-chest having two ports communicating with each steampassage of the piston, two valves arranged to command the respective pairs of ports, and means for actuating the valves.

2. A rotary engine, having a cylinder, a piston mounted to turn therein, the cylinder and piston being arranged to provide two anuular steam-passages, piston-heads carried bythe piston and working respectivelyin the steam -passages, abutments carried by the cylinder and working respectively in the steam-passages, means for withdrawing the piston-heads to avoid the abutmeuts, the cylinder having two ports communicating with each steam-passage, two valves respectively commanding said pairs of ports, and means for operating the valves.

3. A rotary engine, having a cylinder, a piston mounted to turn therein, the piston and cylinder being arranged to form two annular steam-passages, abutments carried by the cylinderand respectively projecting into the steam-passages, piston-heads carried by the piston and respectively working in the steam-passages, means for actuating the piston-heads to avoid the abutments, a valvechest having two ports in communication with each steam-passage and also having an exhaust-port in communication with the iirstnamed ports, an oscillating valve for each pair of the first-named ports, one ofthe valves serving as an exhaust-valve and the other valve serving to oscillate to alternately open the said steam-passages, and means for actuating the valves.

4. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder and piston and two valves, of two hand -levers respectively connected therewith, a pawl mounted on one of the hand-levers and engaging it to hold the two together, and a second pawl mounted on the second hand-lever and working with a stationary part of the engine, to hold both levers stationary.

5. In a rotary engine the combination with a cylinder and piston and two valves, of two hand-levers independently movable and connected with the valves, means for removably connecting the hand-levers with each other, and a second means removably holding one of the hand-levers stationary with the support.

G. The combination with a cylinder and piston of a valve, a valve-stem, a gear mounted loose thereon, means for driving the gear to drive the valve-stem, a clutch member splined on the valve-stein, and aspiral-formed guide engaged with the clutch member to turn the clutch member as it is moved longitudinally on the shaft.

7. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder and piston and the valve thereof, of avalve-stem attached to the valve, a gear loose on the valve-stem, means for rocking the gear to rock the valve-stem, a clutch member splined on the stem and capable of engaging the gear, means for sliding the clutch member on the shaft, and a spiral-formed guide engaged by the clutch member, to turn IOO IIO

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the clutch member simultaneously with the sliding thereof.

.8. The combination with a cylinder and piston and ava1ve,'of a rocking stem or shaft, a member splined thereon and having a re- ,eess, and a spiral-formed guide engaged in said recess, whereby to turn the stem and said member simultaneously Withthe sliding of said member.

9. In a rotary engine, the combination of a cylinder, a piston working therein, a valve, a valve-stem attached thereto, a pinion loose oli the valve-stem, a clutch memessee l BENJAMIN F. LAZENBY.

Witnesses:

W. S. WILLIAMS, J. W. RoBB. 

